Philosophy programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $10,153 to $95,023—a spread that demonstrates how institutional selection dramatically impacts outcomes. Across 105 programs nationwide, Philosophy graduates earn a median of $40,226, with top-tier programs achieving earnings $12,874 higher than national averages for the major.
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, achieving the highest program earnings at $95,023. University of Pennsylvania follows closely with $90,761, while Vanderbilt University rounds out the top three at $81,508. These top-performing programs demonstrate how critical thinking and humanities education translate into strong median earnings when combined with institutional excellence.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,023 Median Philosophy Earnings | $15,470 | 10.0% | 92.0% | |
| #2 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | Philadelphia, PA | $90,761 Median Philosophy Earnings | $1,026 | 5.9% | 96.8% |
| #3 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | Nashville, TN | $81,508 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,797 | 6.3% | 92.7% |
| #4 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | Bronx, NY | $69,445 Median Philosophy Earnings | $31,239 | 56.3% | 80.3% |
| #5 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | Notre Dame, IN | $67,240 Median Philosophy Earnings | $8,873 | 12.4% | 96.8% |
| #6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $63,360 Median Philosophy Earnings | $4,926 | 17.9% | 93.2% | |
| #7 | Yeshivas Be'er YitzchokPrivate | Elizabeth, NJ | $61,244 Median Philosophy Earnings | — | 100.0% | 14.3% |
| #8 | Charlottesville, VA | $60,781 Median Philosophy Earnings | $10,123 | 16.9% | 95.3% | |
| #9 | College Park, MD | $60,654 Median Philosophy Earnings | $3,603 | 44.8% | 88.6% | |
| #10 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Los Angeles, CA | $58,354 Median Philosophy Earnings | $30,208 | 40.3% | 79.8% |
| #11 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $55,143 Median Philosophy Earnings | -$1,428 | 4.8% | 94.9% |
| #12 | Columbus, OH | $54,954 Median Philosophy Earnings | $6,259 | 50.8% | 87.7% | |
| #13 | University Park, PA | $54,634 Median Philosophy Earnings | $18,032 | 80.3% | 85.7% | |
| #14 | San Francisco, CA | $53,614 Median Philosophy Earnings | $9,307 | 96.2% | 50.1% | |
| #15 | University Of FloridaPublic | Gainesville, FL | $53,586 Median Philosophy Earnings | $2,387 | 24.0% | 91.5% |
| #16 | Berkeley, CA | $53,357 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,895 | 11.7% | 92.9% | |
| #17 | New Orleans, LA | $53,219 Median Philosophy Earnings | $20,957 | 14.6% | 88.9% | |
| #18 | Washington, DC | $53,098 Median Philosophy Earnings | $22,216 | 83.8% | 81.3% | |
| #19 | New Brunswick, NJ | $53,001 Median Philosophy Earnings | $15,885 | 65.3% | 85.0% | |
| #20 | University Of ScrantonPrivate | Scranton, PA | $52,951 Median Philosophy Earnings | $17,968 | 84.4% | 80.8% |
